The Postpartum Period

   
Adjustment
 
Childbirth will have a profound physical and emotional impact on you, especially if it is your first birth. You will need a period of adjustment. Your health and safety, as well as your baby's, is our top priority. We want you to enjoy these special first days of your baby's life and to share the joy with your family and friends. At the same time, we want you to get some much-needed rest and also spend some quiet time bonding with your baby.

Visitors
 
Your partner may stay overnight with you. Siblings and grandparents may visit between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Remind them to wash their hands thoroughly before handling the newborn to prevent the spread of germs. You may want to inform all other visitors to come during the evening hours so that you can rest during the day. Visitors who are sick or have a cold should not come to the hospital at all.

Caring For The Newborn
 
Your baby will be with you throughout your stay in the hospital. Please be watchful while baby is in the room, never leave your baby unattended or give your baby to someone without a hospital ID tag. The nurses will assist you with most of your baby care at your bedside, except for the Newborn Hearing Screen. This is done in the nursery along with your baby’s Newborn Metabolic Testing. The nurses will provide breast-feeding instructions and will work with you on techniques to help you breast-feed successfully. They also provide ongoing education on bathing, immunizations, circumcision and general care of the newborn.

Birth Certificate
 
A representative from the Medical Records department will visit you to get information for your baby's birth certificate. At this time, you may apply for a social security number for your baby.

Pictures
 
The BirthPlace has an agreement with a professional photographer to take pictures of their newborns. You will be given a catalog with information on the cost and type of pictures taken. If you choose to have your baby pictures taken while in the hospital, you must sign a consent form. If you choose to have your baby pictures taken after you get home, please be sure to notify the photographer of your decision. Pictures can also be placed in the local newspaper or on a website. All transactions regarding baby pictures are between yourselves and the photographer.

Going Home
 
Discharge time is usually by 11:00 a.m. Your doctor or certifiednurse midwife will make morning rounds and will write up your discharge orders. A family member will need to go to the business office to get a clearance slip. A hospital staff will transport you and your baby in a wheelchair to your car. Hawaii law requires that all children under four years of age or weighing less than 40 pounds be protected by an approved car seat when traveling in a motor vehicle. Make sure you have the right kind of car seat for your baby. Also, it is very important to make sure that the baby's seat is correctly secured in the car. This is often overlooked. During your pregnancy, it is a good idea to practice securing the seat correctly in the car.

Summary
 
The professional staff at Wahiawa General Hospital recognizes that the birth of your child is a very special time in your life. You have your own individual expectations and desires concerning your baby's birth. At The Birth Place, you will have a personal one-to-one relationship with your physician, the certified nurse midwife, and the nurses. All of us will be working with you to ensure that your birthing experience is a truly satisfying and joyful one.